Osteospermum plant named ‘Duetiswila’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Duetiswila’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; and daisy-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets that are light purple in color.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUETISWILA’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Osteospermum Plant Named ‘Duetiswipu’

Applicant: Tobias Dümmen

Filed: Concurrently with this application 12/924,015

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duetiswila’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new compact and freely branchingOsteospermum plants with an outwardly spreading plant habit and numerousattractive inflorescences.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in August, 2007 of a proprietary selection ofOsteospermum ecklonis identified as code number Q06-6099-501, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofOsteospermum ecklonis identified as code number F616-1618, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Osteospermum plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2009, hasshown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duetiswila’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duetiswila’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Daisy-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray        florets that are light purple in color.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the female parentselection in ray floret color as plants of the female parent selectionhave white-colored ray florets. In addition, plants of the newOsteospermum are more compact than plants of the female parentselection.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the male parentselection in ray floret color as plants of the male parent selectionhave purple-colored ray florets. In addition, plants of the newOsteospermum are more outwardly spreading than and not as upright asplants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of Osteospermumecklonis ‘Duetiswipu’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent applicationfiled concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newOsteospermum differ primarily from plants of ‘Duetiswipu’ in ray floretcolor as plants of the new Osteospermum have lighter colored rayflorets. In addition, plants of the new Osteospermum are larger thanplants of ‘Duetiswipu’.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of theOsteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunbrella Pink’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the newOsteospermum differed primarily from plants of ‘Sunbrella Pink’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more outwardly spreading        than plants of ‘Sunbrella Pink’.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum had thicker stems than plants        of ‘Sunbrella Pink’.    -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum had slightly larger        inflorescences than plants of ‘Sunbrella Pink’.    -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Osteospermum were darker in        color than ray florets of plants of ‘Sunbrella Pink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Osteospermum plant. The photograph comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duetiswila’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the spring and summer in 10.5-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under conditionsand practices which approximate those generally used in commercialOsteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day andnight temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux.Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typicalflowering plants. Plants were pinched three weeks after planting andwere 13 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Duetiswila’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number            Q06-6099-501, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis, identified as code number F616-1618,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading            and mounded plant habit; inflorescences positioned above the            foliar plane; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 21 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching            habit, about six lateral branches develop per plant. Length:            About 20 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About            5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 144B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 4.1 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Spatulate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Dentate. Texture, upper            surface: Pubescent; leathery. Texture, lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137B to 137C; venation, close to 144B. Petiole length:            About 6 mm. Petiole diameter: About 4.4 mm. Petiole texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color,            upper surface: Close to 144A to 144B. Petiole color, lower            surface: Close to 144B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance/habit.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with            elongated oblong-shaped ray florets; inflorescences            positioned above the foliar plane; disc and ray florets            developing acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face            mostly upright to somewhat outwardly; freely flowering            habit; about 25 to 30 inflorescences develop per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season and flowering response.—In Germany,            plants of the new Osteospermum flower continuously during            the spring and summer; early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Inflorescences last about three days on            the plant; inflorescences not persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About            8.8 mm. Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 137B and 144C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 8 mm. Receptacle            diameter: About 3 mm. Receptacle height: About 3 mm.        -   Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 3.2 cm.            Width: About 7 mm. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per            inflorescence: About 18 to 22 arranged in about two whorls.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 84A to 84B.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 84A to 84D. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 77B; color becoming closer            to 82C with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 85B and 82B.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed.            Length: About 5 mm. Diameter, apex: About 2 mm. Diameter,            base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 50. Color: Immature: Close to 93C. Mature: Close to            93A to 93C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 18 to 22.            Length: About 9.2 mm. Width: About 6.4 mm Shape: Lanceolate.            Apex: Apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Color, upper            surface: Close to 137B to 137C. Color, lower surface: Close            to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous; leathery. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            color: Close to 79A to 79B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: Close to 23A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc            florets. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Crested.            Stigma color: Close to 79A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style            color: Close to 79A. Ovary color: Close to 144C.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color:            Close to 199A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermums.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about    35° C.

1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘Duetiswila’ asillustrated and described.